Former Baltimore Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake , lawsuit

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 16, 2025

Lead Prosecutor In Diddy Trial Sues Trump For ‘Unlawful And Unconstitutional’ Firing

Maurene Comey, who started at the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2015, is suing over her 'unlawful and unconstitutional' firing.

The lead federal prosecutor in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial is fighting back against the Trump administration over her “unlawful and unconstitutional” firing in July.

Maurene Comey, a lead prosecutor in Combs’ high-profile case and the daughter of former FBI director James B. Comey, filed a lawsuit on Sept. 15 accusing Trump’s Department of Justice of illegally firing her, Billboard reports.

According to the suit, her termination was politically motivated retaliation against her father, who has long criticized Trump since his 2017 dismissal.

“The politically motivated termination of Ms. Comey…upends bedrock principles of our democracy and justice system,” Comey’s lawyers wrote. “Assistant United States Attorneys like Ms. Comey must do their jobs without fearing or favoring any political party or perspective.”

Comey, who has worked at the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2015, gained recognition as a lead prosecutor in the sex trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell. She brought that experience with her to Combs’ criminal case on similar charges. Weeks after Combs was found guilty on lesser prostitution charges, Comey was abruptly fired by the Department of Justice, with “no legitimate explanation,” her lawyers wrote.

“Rather, Defendants fired Ms. Comey solely or substantially because her father is former FBI Director James B. Comey, or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both.”

The lawsuit names the Department of Justice, the Executive Office of the President, and their leaders as defendants, along with the Office of Personnel Management and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. Comey is among dozens of DOJ employees taking legal action after being terminated during Trump’s second term. According to the suit, her husband, Lucas Issacharoff, “voluntarily resigned” from the DOJ in May.

In a leaked memo at the time of her firing, Comey claimed she was dismissed without cause.

“If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain. Do not let that happen,” she wrote. “Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns in the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for victims.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 16, 2025

Atlanta Restaurant Fights To Stay Open Despite Construction Zone Blocking Customer View

The restaurant's owner says that she has lost nearly $200,000 in expected revenue.

A local Atlanta restaurant is fighting to stay open as an ongoing construction zone limits customers from even seeing the eatery.

Vanetta Roy, the owner of East Point’s Eat My Biscuits, said the restaurant has seen a significant drop in revenue since a construction zone popped up right in front of the establishment in February.

Roy told 11Alive that she has lost $200,000 in that time, thanks to the construction blocking the restaurant from sight of new and returning customers. She said no one knows if the breakfast spot is still open, or even exists. The construction zone has even blocked visibility for parking options, creating major hindrances for the business.

The construction zone was supposed to end in April.

“The food, the customer service, all of that is there. It’s the deterrence the city has created,” said Roy.

When customers do drop in, Roy said the food speaks for itself, but the reduction in customers has led to Roy bleeding her bank account into the negative to stay open.

She has resorted to a public call for support. Roy also complained to city officials, who have reportedly only given out signs to promote her business.

Community members have also urged the City of East Point to compensate the restaurateur for the loss in income prompted by the development. They also demanded that officials give a fixed deadline for the completion of the construction site.

Roy expressed her gratitude to Instagram as customers keep the Black-owned eatery going.

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“The love, encouragement, gratitude, and support from each and every one of you has truly been humbling,” captioned Roy. “I must say I was truly blown away by the amount of support from other black women!! My SISTERS SHOWED UP & SHOWED OUT FOR ME!!”

Eat My Biscuits, which has been featured on Food Network is a local favorite known for its “really big” buns. Its acclaimed meals have solidified it as part of the Metro Atlanta food scene.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Trump, ballroom, DC Hillbillies

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 16, 2025

Jasmine Crockett Likens Trumps’ Use Of ICE To ‘Slave Patrols’

Rep. Jasmine Crockett compared Trump’s ICE forces to "slave patrols," saying Americans would recognize the parallel if Black history weren’t under attack.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) criticized Trump’s ICE raids on Democratic-run cities, calling them a “slave patrol” tactic that does nothing to make anyone safer.

Crockett sat down with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi on Sept. 14, where she compared Trump’s deployment of militarized police in Democratic-run cities to the “slave patrols” of the antebellum South, when white men hunted and captured escaped slaves.

“But as somebody who understands history, when I see slave patrols, now I never lived through the slave patrol period, but if you know the history of policing in this country, Then you understand that they were born out of slave patrols and now with the Supreme Court saying this, it’s almost like you can just go grab them up,” Crockett said, as captured by Fox News.

Amid conservative attention on the murder of 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton, who was sexually assaulted and strangled by an undocumented immigrant, Crockett argued that White supremacists commit murders at up to five times the rate of undocumented immigrants.

“None of us want to be unsafe. Yeah, but we’re not looking at the facts,” Crockett said. “We’re not look at the fact that immigrants, regardless of how many times you’re going to cherry-pick and say well, there was this one immigrant that was here illegally, and they ended up killing this one person. Well, for every immigrant that you have an example of, I’ll raise you at least two to five White supremacists, if not more, right?”

Crockett also weighed in on the Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing the Trump administration to lift restrictions on immigration raids in Los Angeles, which permits federal agents to use broad criteria, like speaking Spanish, to question individuals. She argued that all Americans should be concerned about the ruling, noting that a proper education in Black history would show how the country is repeating past injustices.

“It’s almost like you can just go grab them up — that is what they’re saying. And that is a problem,” Crockett said. “We all should have a problem with that. But when you don’t want to teach American history, that includes Black history, then you lose out on the benefit of understanding that we have been down this road before, and it was not good, and we fixed it once, and it is a shame that we are relitigating this and we are going to have to fix it again.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 16, 2025

New Europe Ban On Some Gel Polish Sparks U.S. Concern Over Reported ‘Reproductive Toxicity’

The ban is against a common ingredient found in a lot of gel polishes.

A ban on gel polish over an ingredient’s reported “reproductive toxicity” that may harm human users has begun.

The ban only impacts some gel polishes and cosmetic products that include the chemical trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, or TPO. According to CNN, European regulators classified TPO as a “reproductive toxicant” through a report by the European Commission.

Gel polish has become popular in nail salons across the United States and the world, as its usage eliminates drying time while increasing durability through a UV light. However, UV lighting activates TPO, which animal studies have already concluded leads to “reduced fertility” and other reproductive concerns.

“The EU has banned the use of TPO both at home and professionally due to reproductive toxicity concerns identified in animal studies,” David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, told CNN. “The toxicity studies completed on animals showed testicular abnormalities and reduced fertility.”

Although the findings stem from animals’ reactions, the EU banned any gel polishes containing TPO to avoid human concerns. However, experts noted that these results occurred from direct consumption.

“What’s important to keep in mind is that those end points and those studies were from animal-feeding studies,” shared Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist. “When you’re thinking about nail polish, that’s clearly not how we’re exposed to TPO. You’re not eating the nail polish. So, it’s a different route of exposure.”

Despite the new findings, a fresh gel manicure remains possible, just with alternative products. The EU ban only applies to chemical usage, with TPO-free gel polish still allowed. However, these polishes remain unregulated in the United States, with the Food and Drug Administration not requiring approval for these cosmetic products.

Despite this, the FDA is aware of the global crackdown on gel polishes with TPO.

“FDA can and does take action against cosmetics on the market that do not comply with the law,” explained Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “It’s against the law to use an ingredient that makes a cosmetic harmful when used as intended. Cosmetic manufacturers have a legal responsibility for the safety and labeling of their products.”

Although the European Union has banned items ahead of their determined harm to humans, a national ban in the United States remains unlikely for now. A state-level ban could occur. In fact, California has already instituted bans on chemicals through its expanded Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, which passed in 2020.

by Kandiss Edwards

September 16, 2025

Shaq Steps Up To Help Grieving Family Bury 4 Children

Shaquille O'Neal is known for his acts of kindness. This time he is easing the financial burden of a family who lost 4 siblings during a house fire.

NBA legend and philanthropist, Shaquille O’Neal, has stepped in to pay for the funeral and related costs for four young sisters who died in a house fire in Chadbourn, North Carolina, on Aug. 30.

The girls, siblings aged 2, 4, 6, and 7, were trapped in the home with their father, Patrick Ellis, and their 11-year-old sister. Both Ellis and the 11-year-old survived the blaze. Their mother, Reagan Noelle Powers, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and negligent child abuse. She was arrested and held on a $400,000 bond. Since posting bond, Powers has been released.

O’Neal, who serves as director of Community Relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, is working with multiple law enforcement agencies to support the family financially.

“It touches every one of us parents, neighbors, and human beings,” O’Neal said during a video call with Fox 5. “It was not just a gesture of support; it was a moral responsibility. These were innocent lives, full of promise, taken far too soon.”

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett spoke about the generous donation. He stressed the importance of rallying around the family after such a tragic incident.

“The loss the Ellis family has endured is one that shakes us all to our core,” he said. “Our goal is to remind them they do not walk this journey alone.”

Sheriff O’Neal’s donation will fully cover expenses for the girls’ memorial service, scheduled for Sept. 13, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Representatives from the sheriff’s office plan to attend in support of the family and the Henry County community.

Families in Chadbourn and beyond have rallied around the Ellis family, sending prayers, meals, and messages of solidarity.

The gesture is not surprising as Shaq is known for extending a helping hand to those in need. In 2019, he lent a hand in paying for the funeral expenses of a nine-year-old girl. Jazmine Barnes was shot in the head and died during a drive-by shooting in Houston. Once again, O’Neal stepped up to ease the burden of Barnes’s mother, Alexis Dilbert, who was also shot during the incident, WSBTV reported. Utilizing his wealth to help those less fortunate is a constant reminder of the former NBA big man’s even greater sense of compassion.

by Kandiss Edwards

September 16, 2025

9-Year-Old Makes History As Youngest Neuroscience College Student Ever

Aiden spends part of his week attending neuroscience lectures at Ursinus College.

At just nine years old, Aiden Wilkins has already made history at Ursinus College by becoming its youngest student ever.

A high school sophomore from Montgomery County, Aiden is now adding college neuroscience courses to his studies. At a young age, he is pursuing his dream of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon.

Aiden first captured attention by reading traffic signs at age two. His intelligence came long before most toddlers learn to speak coherently. Wilkins was given gifted testing, which confirmed what his mother, Veronica Wilkins, already saw: a highly intelligent toddler who grasped concepts far beyond those of others his age.

“I could just read them when most kids at my age, at like two, could barely even speak,” Aiden told 6 ABC. “I just grasped it so fast.”

While he remains enrolled at Reach Cyber Charter High School, Aiden spends part of his week attending neuroscience lectures at Ursinus. He marvels at the brain’s capabilities. The high school sophomore says he has been fascinated by anatomy since he was young. His mother says he chose his current direction because of a desire to help children his age, especially those with Neurodisability.

College officials have noted that even during his campus visits, Aiden is curious beyond his years. He can discuss glial cells, neuroplasticity, and Shakespeare.

Kelly Sorensen, associate provost at Ursinus, said that Aiden showed up in “a snazzy suit and tie, curious and eager to talk” about advanced topics.

In correspondence with PEOPLE, Sorenson expressed her eagerness to accept the young academic into the campus community.

“We’re delighted to be a part of Aiden’s journey, which is as exceptional as he is. The challenge is to keep his hungry mind well-fed.”

Despite his extraordinary academic schedule, Aiden still enjoys typical childhood pleasures. He is an avid gamer and a soccer player. Somehow, Aiden manages to balance rigorous learning with youthful exploration.

He offers simple advice to anyone striving for excellence: “You can do anything. You just have to put in the work.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 16, 2025

HBCU First LOOK Film Festival Launches 2025 Tour With Cathy Hughes To ‘Elevate Mentorship’

The "Elevate Mentorship" tour will present media mogul Cathy Hughes and her mentee, HBCUFLF Founder Sheila Eldridge.

The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is gearing up for the 2025 school year by spotlighting the importance of mentorship.

HBCU First LOOK Film Festival will head to Virginia State University Sept. 23 to host its “2025 Elevate Mentorship” speaker tour with media mogul Cathy Hughes and her mentee Sheila Eldridge. Hughes remains a dominant force in Black media as the founder and chairperson of Urban One. At the same time, Eldridge has succeeded as president and CEO of Miles Ahead Broadcasting, in addition to founding HBCUFLF.

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Partnering with Black Information Network and When We All Vote, the HBCUFLF will present the “Let’s Talk” series. The tour stop will make its mark at the land-grant HBCU as part of its 2025 mission to “Elevate Future Storytellers.”

In the conversation, Virginia State students will learn how these mentorship opportunities can help them achieve their overarching goals. As HBCUFLF promotes HBCU students and alums within the media and entertainment industry, this speaker series champions those interested in diversifying this creative landscape.

The discussion will also coincide with National Voter Registration Day, with WWAV in attendance to provide online registration for students. A vocal advocate for voting rights, Hughes has used her platform to encourage the Black community to remain politically informed while civically engaged.

Eldridge also spoke highly of her trailblazing mentor, who has catapulted Urban One to new heights as an influential media hub for Black Americans. The duo has become a leading example of how mentorship can shape the next generation of leaders.

“Cathy Hughes is truly a pioneer in the entertainment and media industry who continues to blaze a trail for others. She is a visionary icon with steadfast and unwavering commitment to mentorship,” said Eldridge in a press release.

While following in her footsteps to change the media landscape, Eldridge has also forged her own path. As the leader of Miles Ahead Entertainment, Eldridge has produced award-winning content in the television and audio sectors.

MAE’s portfolio has also expanded to radio, multimedia marketing, and podcasting, showcasing Eldridge’s production prowess in the evolving market. As a graduate of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University, Eldridge also represents the excellence of an HBCU education.

Now, the women prepare to connect directly with VSU students for this transformative conversation. The free event will take place right in Petersburg for all parts of the HBCU’s community. The film festival’s website hosts all information on the event details.

Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, bellts,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 16, 2025

Terence Crawford’s Mom Criticized Over Harsh Parenting Confessions

Fans are divided over Terrence Crawford's admission of the tough love he received from his mom growing up.

Following his victory over Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford is drawing new attention for revelations about the tough love from his mother that fueled his rise in boxing.

Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, by his parents, Debbie and Terence Sr., alongside his sisters, Latisha and Shawntay, Crawford admits he was a troublemaker who was expelled from five schools and gained a reputation for fighting. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan ahead of his fight with Canelo, he defended his mother after Morgan pressed him about her past admissions, disciplining him with whippings and even paying bullies to fight him.

“I used to get whoopings because I was bad. It’s a part of discipline,” Crawford said. “Ain’t nothing wrong with disciplining your kids when they’re not following directions and when they’re not listening.”

As for the bullies she paid to fight her son, Crawford explained that his mother’s decision stemmed from her own upbringing around boxers and her desire to toughen him up — something he now believes ultimately worked in his favor.

“I think it was more a competitive nature in her,” he explained. “Her brother was a boxer, her dad was a boxer, my dad’s dad was a boxer, my uncles were boxers. So she came from a boxing family, she grew up in the boxing gym.”

Crawford continued, “So me being a little bad kid running around not listening, she’d be like, ‘Alright, let me see how bad you is. I’m gonna pay this little kid see if he can whoop you.’ It was things like that, but I’d whoop them every time.”

Amid the admission, video quickly resurfaced of Crawford’s 2018 feature where ESPN’s Mark Kriegel sat down with his mom and had her explain her rhetoric on paying bullies to fight her son, which she partially credits for his current success.

“He did good because he was around here beating up everybody in the neighborhood,” Debbie said in a clip

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” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>captured by Onsite. “I paid the kids, I said, if y’all come whoop Bud, I’ll give y’all ten dollars a piece.”

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Debbie was also questioned about the harsh remarks she made to her son as a child, including telling him he would fail and never amount to anything.

“Some things that I said to him, I wanted him to be a man,” Debbie explained. “Don’t be afraid of nobody. That’s a hard lesson to learn, you 12, 13. Yeah, but he had to learn it.”

Crawfood admitted that the things his mom told him, “filled me with rage, and every time I stepped foot in the ring or anything that I ever did, I just wanted to win so bad so I can prove a point.”

With these family revelations resurfacing, the Crawfords are facing criticism from those who disapprove of Debbie’s harsh parenting.

“I cry for the child within him. Unloved parents do the most damage,” one person wrote.

“I just don’t believe in tearing a person down to make them build themselves back up. Especially a child,” added someone else.

While some might credit Debbie’s tough love for turning her son into the undefeated boxing champion he is today, she says it’s Crawford who deserves all of the credit.

“He made himself a champion,” she said.

by Mitti Hicks

September 16, 2025

U.S. and China Reach ‘Framework’ Deal for TikTok As Deadline Looms

TikTok’s Chinese owner was facing a Sept. 17 deadline to find a buyer for its US operations or face a ban in the country due to national security concerns.

U.S. and Chinese officials confirmed on Monday that they have reached a deal regarding TikTok, which reportedly outlines the framework for transferring ownership of the short video app to U.S. control. The tentative agreement over the social media app, with an estimated 170 million U.S. users, comes after months-long negotiations between the world’s two largest economies.

TikTok’s Chinese owner was facing a Sept. 17 deadline to find a buyer for its U.S. operations or face a ban in the country due to national security concerns, The BBC reported.

U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, confirmed that negotiations took place in Madrid but declined to discuss the specifics of the deal. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss the agreement over the phone on Friday.

Bessent also said the Sept. 17 deadline could be extended by 90 days so the deal could be finalized.

According to Reuters, this marks the second time this year that American and Chinese officials have come close to a TikTok deal. Previous negotiations from March failed.

Even with an agreement, the Republican-controlled Congress will still need to approve the deal, following a law passed in 2024 that banned TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sold its U.S. division. The law was in response to the U.S. Justice Department expressing fears that the Chinese government could access TikTok’s U.S. users’ data, allowing China to spy on Americans.

Congress passed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), and then-President Joe Biden signed the law in April 2024. The Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the law in January 2025, rejecting arguments from TikTok and ByteDance, which had argued that the law violated free speech protections.

On Truth Social, Trump said the talks with China had “gone very well.”

A Sticking Point for U.S.-China Trade Deals

The ownership of TikTok has been a sticking point as both economies negotiate trade deals. According to The BBC, Beijing has used it to negotiate lower tariffs and fewer trade barriers, as the United States is one of China’s biggest markets.

Bessent’s announcement that a framework is in place comes after the second day of negotiations to end a contentious trade war. At its peak, tariffs on some goods hit 145%.

Still, China’s top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, said China would not reach a deal with the U.S. at the expense of its own principles and leadership.

Beyonce, Jay-Z, tour bus, NYC, Piers Morgan

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 16, 2025

Jay-Z And Beyoncé Face Backlash After Dining With Ivanka Trump And Jared Kushner

Jay-Z and Beyoncé are receiving heightened scrutiny for a photo showing them seated with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Jay-Z’s REFORM Alliance Casino Night and Gala in Atlantic City drew major star power, but a photo of him and Beyoncé seated at a table with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner has sparked backlash across social media.

On Sept. 13, Jay-Z joined REFORM Alliance partners Michael Rubin and Meek Mill to host the second annual Casino Night Gala at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, raising more than $20 million for criminal justice reform with the help of a star-studded guest list, NBC News reported. Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft were among the celebrities in attendance, with several taking the stage to perform, including The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Ice Spice, Quavo, and DJ Khaled.

The night was filled with high-stakes gambling and A-list mingling, but what grabbed the most attention online was a photo of Jay-Z and Beyoncé seated at a table with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, sparking outrage among many fans.

https://twitter.com/abenaissance/status/1967348175850897829

Photos posted by Beyoncé fan page Abenaissance on X showed the Carters seated with Trump and Kushner, alongside other celebrity sightings, including Tom Brady and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez. After the image drew backlash, the fan page eventually muted the post and disabled comments, but it didn’t stop many from sounding off with reposts.

“Everyone is a capitalist, none of these celebs truly care about y’all struggles, yes, they are all part of the elite. Hope that helps,” one person tweeted.

“Laughing at all y’all that put Jay-Z and Beyoncé on a pedestal. They all worship the all-mighty dollar,” another user wrote.

Some critics even speculated whether Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era signaled a shift toward more conservative American themes, with a few going as far as to label her a MAGA supporter.

“I wonder why no one’s calling her maga for hanging out with them…” one user tweeted.

“This exaggerated USA aesthetic was always weird but soooo obvious…” another user quipped.

This exaggerated USA aesthetic was always weird but soooo obvious… https://t.co/cHTlcQUarA pic.twitter.com/RM7yPL81xa
— ؘ (@themidnightstan) September 15, 2025

Jay-Z’s REFORM Alliance is a bipartisan organization that has worked with both Democrats and Republicans at the state and federal levels to advance criminal justice reform, with a primary focus on transforming probation and parole laws nationwide. Beyoncé, meanwhile, has long supported Democratic candidates, campaigning publicly for Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, and others, support that drew backlash from conservatives last year. Her presence alongside her husband in his bipartisan efforts is hardly surprising. Yet, the photo of the Carters seated with Trump and Kushner has prompted fresh speculation about their political leanings, a reminder of the great influence celebrity appearances hold in political spaces.